Dawn Of The Arcana, Vol. 1 (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
**This review is for the entire series. I started just adding the first volume from manga titles because, well, do you realize just how many volumes of One Piece there are?!**Oh, man. Reimei no Arcana did me in. (Seriously. I think I cried every single time I read a *chapter* of this manga!)It is such an incredible manga! Again, saddest storyline in the history of, well, ever, but incredible nonetheless. Why, you ask? The artwork is stunning. The characters are gripping. The plot is an entire park full of thrill rides (without lines, of course!). The manga has a solemn tone, so if you're looking for a laugh-your-heart-out manga to read before you go to bed, don't choose this one. This one is for catharsis. For deep thinkers. For when you want to be MOVED.If I find any other manga by this mangaka, I will attempt to devour it as quickly as possible. Highly recommend. Last summer, I started rereading all the old shoujo manga that I have come to love. (First in line is, of course, Dengeki Daisy LOL) But color me surprise when I see this manga completed and I remember that I actually stopped reading this because *small voice* I became lazy. Sorrrrry.But I picked it up again and yeah I really forgot what happens in the story, all I can recall is the girl has powers and she was married to the other kingdom to satiate a war (?? Or is it to forge an alliance???). Like that!If you know me well, you'll know I'm a sucker for epic high fantasy which involves different kingdoms. So this manga is such a piece of gem for me. The world building is great. And the characters have their own past that we will slowly unravel (hopefully, right? Because I wanna know more about Nakaba.)Okay okay wait. I really love Nakaba and Loki's relationship. Not in the way that I want them to go kiss and marry each other. Nakaba grew up with no friends because of that damn beautiful red hair and Loki was the only one who was there for her. I'm just awwww. I see Loki more as a brother figure and I'm glad that he's there with Nakaba because I sense something evil in here, lol.And Caesar!!! The exclamation points are not because I find him swoon worthy. At least, not yet. I kinda hated when he forced himself to Nakaba. But it is particularly heart warming to read the last few chapters where his whole perspective changes.Can't wait to find out more about Nakaba's powers and to how her relationship with Caesar will improve.
What do You think about Dawn Of The Arcana, Vol. 1 (2012)?
Barnes & Noble does not have the world's best manga selection, but sometimes you can stumble upon something great. I was walking through the section the other day and randomly picked up Dawn of the Arcana. I hadn't heard anything about it. What a great first volume!It's a high fantasy set on a small island made up of two warring nations. To maintain a temporary peace, royalty from each nation frequently marry. Here, Princess Nakaba from the poor nation has married Prince Caesar of the rich country. Nakaba's only friend of Loki, a demi-human - he basically looks human but has dog ears and enhanced physical abilities. Demi-humans are treated as sub-humans, subject to death for slight offenses.This first volume sets up the world and the characters well. Prince Caesar is a wonderfully constructed, complex character. Initially, he looks like a cardboard villain. He is cruel, but there are hints of principle and personality that makes me somewhat like him. Princess Nakaba is hardened and distrustful, but also resourceful and brave. Loki is steadfastly loyal and intelligent.If you haven't heard of Dawn of the Arcana, I highly recommend checking it out. It's nice to read a series for once that doesn't feel overly silly
—ada
Good start to an appealing series. The art is striking and bold. The love triangle is just forming in this first volume and the main love interest seems like a total jerk-wad, but he begins to look like less of one toward the end. The second love interest, Loki, has almost no claim to the female protagonist whatsoever and he is just in this volume creating problems for everyone due to his low station as a dude with animal ears. Oh no! Ears! It seems like there is supposed to be a thing between the main gal and Loki but there isn't and the reader is left to make something up or file it away as he is a weirdo. I tend to think he is just a weirdo.
—Lindsey1989
